Crime & Safety
Why Was West Des Moines Woman Who Asked Police for Help Charged With Crime?
The woman said she was afraid of her boyfriend's cousin, but she was the one who went to jail.
A West Des Moines woman faces disorderly conduct charges after allegedly wrestling with a police officer she asked to help her retrieve personal items from her boyfriend’s apartment.
Nicole Marie Drake, 22, asked for assistance in removing her belongings from the apartment. She told police she feared repercussions from her boyfriend’s cousin, who had asked her to move out of the residence they shared, according to Officer Ben Woods’ report of the April 8 incident.
Once inside, Drake repeatedly yelled and flailed her arms in a threatening manner at her boyfriend’s cousin, according to the report.
Woods said when he restrained Drake by putting his hands on Drake’s shoulders, “she violent shrugged my hands off her shoulders and I took her to the ground before she could assault [the alleged victim] any further.”
Drake reportedly continued to resist Woods, so he called for backup.
The alleged victim of the assault said he wasn’t interested in pursuing charges against Drake, but Woods advised him she would be going to jail for disorderly conduct.
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